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Culture and Arts Law, 5763–2002

חוק התרבות והאמנות, התשס"ג–2002

Published: 2002-11-20Last amended 2026-05-20✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-09
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Definitions§

1.

In this Law –

"field of activity" and "budget item" – as defined in the annual budget law, within the meaning of the Foundations of Budget Law, 5745-1985;

"culture and arts" – any cultural and artistic activity in the sphere of creative and intellectual life;

"the Committee" – the Education and Culture Committee of the Knesset;

"the Minister" – the Minister of Science, Culture and Sport.

Appointment of the Council and its Objectives§

2.
(a)The Government shall appoint the Israeli Council for Culture and Arts (in this Law – the Council), upon the recommendation of the Minister.
(b)The Council shall advise the Government and the Minister in the fields of culture and arts relating to matters pertaining to the field of activity of culture in the budget item of the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport, and shall fulfil the functions imposed upon it under the provisions of this Law.
(c)The Council shall act to promote a policy of culture and arts that gives expression to creative and intellectual life in the State of Israel, while ensuring freedom of creation and giving expression to the cultural diversity of society in Israel, to the various prevailing views therein and to its values as a Jewish and democratic state.

Functions of the Council§

3.

The following are the functions of the Council:

(1)to propose to the Minister –
(a)a multi-year programme for policy in the fields of culture and arts;
(b)a multi-year programme on the subject of support for culture and arts institutions;
(c)initiatives, activities, projects and the establishment of new bodies in the fields of culture and arts;
(d)initiatives, activities and projects for the encouragement and promotion of creation and the artist, including by means of grants, scholarships and prizes;
(e)proposals concerning the strengthening, cultivation and encouragement of new fields of culture and arts;
(2)to formulate recommendations on subjects in the fields of culture and arts or on subjects that the Minister has requested it to deliberate upon; the recommendations shall be submitted for the Minister's consideration;
(3)to initiate research on matters of culture and arts and the holding of conferences, study days and public discussions;
(4)to advise the Minister on the determination of criteria for support of culture and arts institutions under section 3a of the Foundations of Budget Law, 5745-1985, including with regard to the formulation of rules and principles for recognition or revocation of recognition for the purpose of support of culture and arts institutions and also for the purpose of granting status in respect of other enactments;
(5)to advise the Government and the Minister on any matter relating to policy in the field of culture and arts and on any matter relating to the implementation of this Law.

Composition of the Council§

4.
(a)The Council shall comprise not fewer than nineteen members and not more than thirty-one members, and its composition shall be as stated below:
(1)at least half of the members shall be persons of standing in the field of creation, practice, performance and research in the fields of culture and arts who are not State employees;
(2)the remaining members shall be engaged in the fields of culture and arts and shall not be State employees.
(b)The Government, upon the recommendation of the Minister, shall appoint the chairperson of the Council from among the members referred to in subsection (a).
(c)Adequate representation shall be given in the Council to the diversity of fields of culture and arts, including literature, music, plastic arts, theatre, dance and folk culture; adequate representation in the Council shall likewise be given to various population sectors.
(d)The appointment of members of the Council shall be made after the Minister has consulted with organisations representing creators, artists and persons engaged in the fields of culture and arts and with public bodies in the fields of culture and arts, as determined by the Minister.

The Culture and Arts (Representative Organisations and Public Bodies) Order, 5764-2003 (Kovetz HaTakanot 5764, 58) has been published.

(e)A person who has been convicted of an offence which, by reason of its nature, gravity or circumstances, renders him unfit to serve as a member of the Council shall not be appointed as a member of the Council.

Term of Office§

5.
(a)Members of the Council shall be appointed for a period of four years.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the Government may extend the term of office of a member of the Council by an additional two years.

Vacation of Office§

6.

A member of the Council shall cease to serve before the end of his term of office upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)he resigned by delivering a letter of resignation to the Minister;
(2)the condition set out in section 4(a) by virtue of which he was appointed ceased to be fulfilled;
(3)he was convicted of an offence as referred to in section 4(e).

Removal from Office§

7.

The Minister may remove a member of the Council from office before the end of his term of office upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)he is permanently unable to fulfil his functions;
(2)he was absent without justifiable cause from four consecutive meetings of the Council or from more than one-third of the meetings held by the Council in one year.

Validity of Actions§

8.

The existence of the Council, its powers and the validity of its decisions and actions shall not be affected by reason of a vacancy in the place of a member thereof or by reason of a defect in the appointment or continued service of a member.

Conflict of Interests§

9.

A person who may find himself, directly or indirectly, in a situation of conflict of interests between his function as a member of the Council and a personal interest or other function of his shall not serve as a member of the Council.

Sub-Committees§

10.
(a)The Council may appoint sub-committees from among its members and may also co-opt as members of those sub-committees persons who are not among its members, provided that the chairperson of each sub-committee shall be a member of the Council and that at least one-fifth of its members shall be members of the Council.
(b)The provisions of sections 4(e) and 6(3) shall apply to members of sub-committees who are not members of the Council; the provisions of section 9 shall likewise apply to them, however the Minister may, with the approval of the Committee, determine provisions for the prevention of concern of conflict of interests; where he has so determined, the provisions he has determined shall apply.

Modes of Operation§

11.

The Council shall determine the modes of appointment of sub-committees and the rules of procedure at its meetings and at meetings of sub-committees, insofar as these have not been determined under this Law.

Budget and Remuneration§

12.
(a)The annual budget for culture and arts and the budget of the Council shall be determined within the field of activity – culture, in the budget item of the Ministry responsible for the field of culture in the annual budget law.
(b)The Minister may decide on the payment of remuneration to holders of certain positions among the members of the Council or its sub-committees at such rate as he shall determine, all with the consent of the Minister of Finance.

Support for Artists in Distress§

12a.
(a)In this section –

"artist" – a creator within the meaning of the Copyright Law, 5768-2007, or a performer as defined in the Performers' and Broadcasters' Rights Law, 5744-1984;

"annual budget law" – as defined in the Foundations of Budget Law, 5745-1985;

"index" – the Consumer Price Index published by the Central Bureau of Statistics;

"base index" – the index that was known on the 22nd of Tevet 5787 (1 January 2027).

(b)A budget for support of artists in distress shall be determined in the budget item of the Ministry of Culture and Sport in the annual budget law, in an amount not less than the following amounts, as the case may be:
(1)in 2026 – NIS 2,500,000;
(2)in 2027 – NIS 5,000,000;
(3)from 2028 onwards – NIS 7,000,000.
(c)The amount specified in subsection (b)(3) shall be updated on 1 January of each year (in this section – the update date) in accordance with the rate of change of the index known on the update date compared to the base index.
(d)The Minister shall publish on the website of the Ministry of Culture and Sport equitable criteria for the support of artists in distress from the support budget funds referred to in subsection (b), taking into account, inter alia, the age of the artists, their seniority in the field of culture and their financial situation.
(e)Where the Minister has not published criteria as referred to in subsection (d), the criteria for support of artists in distress in their last version as published on the website of the Ministry of Culture and Sport prior to the publication of the Performers' and Broadcasters' Rights Law (Amendment No. 10), 5786-2026, shall apply, and if he published criteria as referred to in subsection (d) in a previous year – the last criteria he published shall apply.
(f)The Ministry of Culture and Sport shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the budget designated for the support of artists in distress under this section is utilised in full each year.

Implementation and Regulations§

13.

The Minister is charged with the implementation of this Law and may, with the approval of the Committee, make Regulations in respect of anything relating to its implementation.

Appointment of First Council and Transitional Provision§

14.

The Government shall appoint the first Council under this Law by the 7th of Tevet 5764 (1 January 2004); until the appointment of the first Council, all the powers and functions vested in the Council under this Law shall be vested in the Public Council for Culture and Arts that was appointed pursuant to the Government decision of the 6th of Av 5742 (26 July 1982).

Savings Provisions and Co-ordination§

15.

Nothing in the provisions of this Law shall derogate from the powers of the Film Council under the Cinema Law, 5759-1999, from the powers of the Museums Council under the Museums Law, 5743-1983, or from the powers of the Public Libraries Council under the Public Libraries Law, 5735-1975; in the exercise of its functions under this Law in matters relating to the powers of the said councils, the Council shall act in co-ordination with them.

Commencement§

16.

This Law shall commence upon the expiry of three months from the date of its publication.

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